Great Web site for cyclists in Germany
Published: May 25, 2007
The great thing about cycling is that you can make whatever you want of it. From a short jaunt starting at your doorstep and ending at the biergarten, to a weeklong journey with a tent and sleeping bag in your panniers, there’s a route that’s right for everyone.
I recently discovered a terrific resource for those interested in all manner of bike trips throughout Germany. BicycleGermany.com will help you plan your route, provide you with a description of the terrain and sites you’ll encounter along the way, and even suggest places suitable for an overnight stop. A huge plus to this Web site is that it was put together not for commercial gain, but as a labor of love by its creator, who, in his own words, “endeavors to bring to the English-speaking public, a complete, state-of-the-art web page promoting self-guided bicycling tours in Germany.” I think he’s met this mission admirably.
Before you head out on a long journey, it’s also a great idea to purchase some manner of Freizeitkarte or Fahrradkarte, which are leisure-time or biking maps, of the region you wish to explore. You can usually pick one up at the press shops at train stations or at bookstores on the economy. They’re good to have along: By neglecting to purchase one prior to my last ride, I failed to realize that a ferry crossing had been incorporated into the route I was following - and that ferry had stopped running after 6 p.m. That would not have been good if I’d had a hotel reservation on the far side of the river!
